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PM Grindeanu on Brexit: Romania remains UK's friend, ally
Romania will remain UK's friend and ally, irrespective of the UK position whether inside or outside the European Union, Romania's Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said Tuesday.
He made the statement at the beginning of a first meeting of Romania's Brexit Interministerial Council hosted by the Government House.
"I have decided to convene the first meeting of the Brexit Interministerial Council today because at the end of this week, on April 29, the European Council will adopt guidelines for the European Commission's mandate in the negotiations between the European Union and the UK. I believe the first thing we have to underscore is that we remain UK's friends and allies, irrespective of the UK's future place, whether inside or outside the EU," said Grindeanu.
He went on to say that the main priority of his cabinet is for the UK pulling out of the EU to have the least possible effect on Romanians in the UK.
"Our number one priority is for the process to have the least possible impact on Romanians living, working or studying in the UK, because their rights have to be protected and negotiations to this end will have to be conducted teamed up with the European Commission," said Grindeanu.
He also mentioned other directions Romania should follow in the same process.
"There are two other directions that I believe Romania should follow as part of the negotiations: preserving the budgets for the cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy in the financial framework 2014 — 2020, and, of course, consolidating UK — EU defence cooperation post-Brexit and foreign affairs," added Grindeanu.
Attending the first meeting of the Brexit Interministerial Council are members of the Grindeanu Cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister Sevil Shhaideh; Interior Minister Carmen Dan; Minister-delegate for European Affairs Ana Birchall; Justice Minister Tudorel Toader and Finance Minister Viorel Stefan.